chemistry
Periodic: A Game of the Elements
November 27, 2020
Periodic: A Game of The Elements is a strategy board game designed around the periodic table of elements, as well as some of the most fundamental principles in chemistry that can be derived from the structure and function of the periodic table.
Players maneuver across the periodic table to collect elements to score Goal Cards, and land on element groups to score points. Players either pay energy to use multiple periodic trends to move across the table, or select just one trend and collect all the energy payed to that trend!
This is more a chemistry-themed game, in that you can play it without knowing chemistry, but it will certainly help reinforce vocabulary and concepts. I can't see using this in the classroom, but it would make a cool game for a games club if your school has one — and a lovely present for your favourite young science geek!
Linked in the Science Games page.
Players maneuver across the periodic table to collect elements to score Goal Cards, and land on element groups to score points. Players either pay energy to use multiple periodic trends to move across the table, or select just one trend and collect all the energy payed to that trend!
This is more a chemistry-themed game, in that you can play it without knowing chemistry, but it will certainly help reinforce vocabulary and concepts. I can't see using this in the classroom, but it would make a cool game for a games club if your school has one — and a lovely present for your favourite young science geek!
Linked in the Science Games page.
In Our Time: Dorothy Hodgkin
October 13, 2019
In Our Time is a wonderful series on BBC Radio 4.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the work and ideas of Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin (1910-1994), awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964 for revealing the structures of vitamin B12 and penicillin and who later determined the structure of insulin. She was one of the pioneers of X-ray crystallography and described by a colleague as 'a crystallographers' crystallographer'. She remains the only British woman to have won a Nobel in science, yet rejected the idea that she was a role model for other women, or that her career was held back because she was a woman. She was also the first woman since Florence Nightingale to receive the Order of Merit, and was given the Lenin Peace Prize in recognition of her efforts to bring together scientists from the East and West in pursuit of nuclear disarmament.
Linked in the grade 12 chemistry page.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the work and ideas of Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin (1910-1994), awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964 for revealing the structures of vitamin B12 and penicillin and who later determined the structure of insulin. She was one of the pioneers of X-ray crystallography and described by a colleague as 'a crystallographers' crystallographer'. She remains the only British woman to have won a Nobel in science, yet rejected the idea that she was a role model for other women, or that her career was held back because she was a woman. She was also the first woman since Florence Nightingale to receive the Order of Merit, and was given the Lenin Peace Prize in recognition of her efforts to bring together scientists from the East and West in pursuit of nuclear disarmament.
Linked in the grade 12 chemistry page.
In Our Time: Kinetic Theory
May 26, 2019
In Our Time is a wonderful series on BBC Radio 4.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how scientists sought to understand the properties of gases and the relationship between pressure and volume, and what that search unlocked. Newton theorised that there were static particles in gases that pushed against each other all the harder when volume decreased, hence the increase in pressure. Those who argued that molecules moved, and hit each other, were discredited until James Maxwell and Ludwig Boltzmann used statistics to support this kinetic theory. Ideas about atoms developed in tandem with this, and it came as a surprise to scientists in C20th that the molecules underpinning the theory actually existed and were not simply thought experiments.
Linked in the grade 11 chemistry page.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how scientists sought to understand the properties of gases and the relationship between pressure and volume, and what that search unlocked. Newton theorised that there were static particles in gases that pushed against each other all the harder when volume decreased, hence the increase in pressure. Those who argued that molecules moved, and hit each other, were discredited until James Maxwell and Ludwig Boltzmann used statistics to support this kinetic theory. Ideas about atoms developed in tandem with this, and it came as a surprise to scientists in C20th that the molecules underpinning the theory actually existed and were not simply thought experiments.
Linked in the grade 11 chemistry page.
In Our Time: Free Radicals
November 11, 2018
In Our Time is a wonderful series on BBC Radio 4.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the properties of atoms or molecules with a single unpaired electron, which tend to be more reactive, keen to seize an electron to make it a pair. In the atmosphere, they are linked to reactions such as rusting. Free radicals came to prominence in the 1950s with the discovery that radiation poisoning operates through free radicals, as it splits water molecules and produces a very reactive hydroxyl radical which damages DNA and other molecules in the cell. There is also an argument that free radicals are a byproduct of normal respiration and over time they cause an accumulation of damage that is effectively the process of ageing. For all their negative associations, free radicals play an important role in signalling and are also linked with driving cell division, both cancer and normal cell division, even if they tend to become damaging when there are too many of them.
Linked in the grade 12 chemistry page.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the properties of atoms or molecules with a single unpaired electron, which tend to be more reactive, keen to seize an electron to make it a pair. In the atmosphere, they are linked to reactions such as rusting. Free radicals came to prominence in the 1950s with the discovery that radiation poisoning operates through free radicals, as it splits water molecules and produces a very reactive hydroxyl radical which damages DNA and other molecules in the cell. There is also an argument that free radicals are a byproduct of normal respiration and over time they cause an accumulation of damage that is effectively the process of ageing. For all their negative associations, free radicals play an important role in signalling and are also linked with driving cell division, both cancer and normal cell division, even if they tend to become damaging when there are too many of them.
Linked in the grade 12 chemistry page.
Subatomic: An Atom-Building Board Game
February 10, 2018
Subatomic is a deck-building game themed around the intersection of particle physics and chemistry. Players start with a hand of Up Quarks, Down Quarks and Particle/Wave Duality cards, which they use to form protons, neutrons, and electrons. Players combine these subatomic particles to either build available Elements or buy even more powerful cards for their deck.
Players start with a hand of 5 cards. They use their Up Quarks and Down Quarks to create Protons and Neutrons, and use their Particle/Wave Duality Cards to create Electrons.
They can either use these Subatomic Particles to either purchase Subatomic Particle cards that get mixed into a player's starter deck, making it more powerful, or build up the atom on their player mat (in order to claim Element Cards, which are what score them points).
When a player claims an Element, they also place two Goal Markers on the board, competing over control for additional end game points. At the end of the game, you'll get points for End Goals based on the Elements you built during the game IF you have the most or second most Goal Markers on any given End Goal.
Player can also remove weaker cards from their deck (cull their deck) by Annihilating cards from their hand for a cost of 2 energy.
I backed this game on Kickstarter, after playtesting it a couple of times. While too complicated to fit into the regular science classroom, it would make a useful addition to a school gaming club's library.
Linked in the grade 9 chemistry unit and grade 12 modern physics unit.
Players start with a hand of 5 cards. They use their Up Quarks and Down Quarks to create Protons and Neutrons, and use their Particle/Wave Duality Cards to create Electrons.
They can either use these Subatomic Particles to either purchase Subatomic Particle cards that get mixed into a player's starter deck, making it more powerful, or build up the atom on their player mat (in order to claim Element Cards, which are what score them points).
When a player claims an Element, they also place two Goal Markers on the board, competing over control for additional end game points. At the end of the game, you'll get points for End Goals based on the Elements you built during the game IF you have the most or second most Goal Markers on any given End Goal.
Player can also remove weaker cards from their deck (cull their deck) by Annihilating cards from their hand for a cost of 2 energy.
I backed this game on Kickstarter, after playtesting it a couple of times. While too complicated to fit into the regular science classroom, it would make a useful addition to a school gaming club's library.
Linked in the grade 9 chemistry unit and grade 12 modern physics unit.
Molecular Compound Worksheets and Quizzes
November 21, 2017
A set of five worksheets to practice naming molecular compounds from the formula, or writing the formula from the name. Also formatted as quizzes. Answers are provided.
Linked in the grade 10 chemistry unit.
Linked in the grade 10 chemistry unit.
Element Bingo
November 02, 2017
States of Matter Game
May 16, 2017
A simple card game designed to reinforce states of matter and phase transitions. Cards represent either states of matter or phase transitions.
Players race to be the first to empty their hand, laying down state and transition cards in the correct sequence.
This print-and-play game is formatted to be printed on prepunched business card stock, making it fast to print a class set of games.
Linked in the grade 9 chemistry unit.
Players race to be the first to empty their hand, laying down state and transition cards in the correct sequence.
This print-and-play game is formatted to be printed on prepunched business card stock, making it fast to print a class set of games.
Linked in the grade 9 chemistry unit.
Here Comes Science: Music DVD and CD
May 11, 2017
Here Comes Science is a DVD/CD set of songs about science. The video for “Meet the Elements” was featured on boingboing.net, while the legendary rock version of “Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)” finally gets a fully realized studio reading, and even it’s own answer song. Danny Weinkauf contributes “I Am A Paleontologist” which would be used in the soundtrack to a national television campaign.
TRACK LIST
Science Is Real
Meet The Elements
I Am A Paleontologist w/ Danny Weinkauf
The Bloodmobile
Electric Car w/ Robin Goldwasser
My Brother The Ape
What Is A Shooting Star?
How Many Planets?
Why Does The Sun Shine?
Why Does The Sun Really Shine?
Roy G. Biv
Put It To The Test
Photosynthesis
Cells
Speed And Velocity w/ Marty Beller
Computer Assisted Design
Solid Liquid Gas
Here Comes Science
The Ballad Of Davy Crockett (In Outer Space)
The songs may be silly children’s songs, but the science is real. I show some of the videos while I'm waiting for the class to arrive.
Linked in the grade 9 science, grade 10 science, and grade 11 kinematics pages.
TRACK LIST
Science Is Real
Meet The Elements
I Am A Paleontologist w/ Danny Weinkauf
The Bloodmobile
Electric Car w/ Robin Goldwasser
My Brother The Ape
What Is A Shooting Star?
How Many Planets?
Why Does The Sun Shine?
Why Does The Sun Really Shine?
Roy G. Biv
Put It To The Test
Photosynthesis
Cells
Speed And Velocity w/ Marty Beller
Computer Assisted Design
Solid Liquid Gas
Here Comes Science
The Ballad Of Davy Crockett (In Outer Space)
The songs may be silly children’s songs, but the science is real. I show some of the videos while I'm waiting for the class to arrive.
Linked in the grade 9 science, grade 10 science, and grade 11 kinematics pages.
Rare Earth: Chemical Element Card Game
May 11, 2017
From cute little Hydrogen to heroic Meitnerium to mysterious Ununoctium, chemical element cartoon characters are bonding together, mixing-it-up and raiding each other’s Labs to capture Protons in this exciting card game.
With the Rare Earth Chemical Element Card Game, every child has fun learning the fundamentals of Chemistry, Great for Science classrooms and entertaining for kids and families, players win by combining chemical element cards.
This game is built around forming binary ionic compounds. Bonding a new compound gets you an energy card, which lets you mix an alloy. Forming a compound or allow also lets you steal a compound or allow from one of your opponents.
An expansion pack is available that adds cards to make a complete periodic table.
The rules include several variants, making it suitable for different grades. For the basic game you don't need to know any chemistry — it’s built into the rules. I would start with the simplest version (intended for children) and add complexity if the class likes the game.
Rare Earth is designed for 2-6 players, so the average classroom would need 5-6 sets. Fortunately, there’s a classroom price: six sets plus an expansion pack for the price of five, with free shipping.
LeapCloud is a Canadian company, which makes shipping a lot more reasonable than it is for many products (and free if you order two products at once).
Linked in the grade 9 chemistry unit and grade 10 chemistry unit.
With the Rare Earth Chemical Element Card Game, every child has fun learning the fundamentals of Chemistry, Great for Science classrooms and entertaining for kids and families, players win by combining chemical element cards.
This game is built around forming binary ionic compounds. Bonding a new compound gets you an energy card, which lets you mix an alloy. Forming a compound or allow also lets you steal a compound or allow from one of your opponents.
An expansion pack is available that adds cards to make a complete periodic table.
The rules include several variants, making it suitable for different grades. For the basic game you don't need to know any chemistry — it’s built into the rules. I would start with the simplest version (intended for children) and add complexity if the class likes the game.
Rare Earth is designed for 2-6 players, so the average classroom would need 5-6 sets. Fortunately, there’s a classroom price: six sets plus an expansion pack for the price of five, with free shipping.
LeapCloud is a Canadian company, which makes shipping a lot more reasonable than it is for many products (and free if you order two products at once).
Linked in the grade 9 chemistry unit and grade 10 chemistry unit.
ION: A Compound Building Game
April 02, 2017
ION: A Compound Building Game is a simple card drafting game where players select from a number of available ion cards and noble gas cards, with the objective of forming either neutrally charged compounds or sets of stable noble gases.
How to Play
Each player is initially dealt eight cards. They choose one card and pass the remaining to the player on their left, while they receive the same amount of cards from the player on their right (this is commonly referred to as “card drafting” or “pick and pass”).
Selected cards must be either (1) bonded to another ion or (2) set alone. Players only score points for neutrally balanced cards. So a positive charged Sodium (Na+) bonding with a negatively charge Chloride (Cl-), forming a neutral NaCl compound. would score points.
Points are scored at the end of each round and player may gain additional points for building specific compounds listed on the goal cards for that round. After three rounds the player with the most points wins!
The game comes with multiple expansions including a Transition Metals expansion, a Polyatomic Ion expansion, and a Radioactive Card expansion.
This game take a different approach to my own Ionicompounds game.
Linked in the grade 9 chemistry page and the grade 10 chemistry page.
How to Play
Each player is initially dealt eight cards. They choose one card and pass the remaining to the player on their left, while they receive the same amount of cards from the player on their right (this is commonly referred to as “card drafting” or “pick and pass”).
Selected cards must be either (1) bonded to another ion or (2) set alone. Players only score points for neutrally balanced cards. So a positive charged Sodium (Na+) bonding with a negatively charge Chloride (Cl-), forming a neutral NaCl compound. would score points.
Points are scored at the end of each round and player may gain additional points for building specific compounds listed on the goal cards for that round. After three rounds the player with the most points wins!
The game comes with multiple expansions including a Transition Metals expansion, a Polyatomic Ion expansion, and a Radioactive Card expansion.
This game take a different approach to my own Ionicompounds game.
Linked in the grade 9 chemistry page and the grade 10 chemistry page.
Covalence: A Molecule Building Game
April 02, 2017
Covalence is a chemistry-themed cooperative game where players work together to accurately build a number of secret organic molecules. One player has knowledge of a set of Secret Molecules. All other players must deduce what these secret molecules are, based upon clues given to them. Players must cooperatively construct their molecules before the clues run out!
How to Play
One player takes on the role of the “Knower” while all other players then become the “Builders”. The Knower has access to a number of Secret Molecules and will give the Builders clues about these as they attempt to identify their structure. After setting up the Clue cards in front of her, the Knower will randomly designate 3 Secret Molecule cards for each Builder (4 Secret Molecules if there is only one Builder). Each Builder then takes a set of Element Tiles that bear a variety of elements and bonding patterns.
The Knower must study the Secret Molecules designated to each Builder and then give each Builder clue cards that relate to their specific Molecule!
Each Builder must interpret these Clues as they arrange and rearrange their individual Element Tiles, attempting to deduce the structure of their Secret Molecule.
Builders may request new Clues from the Knower as the game progresses with their limited supply of Clue Tokens.
When the Builders think that the molecular structures they have built match their Secret Molecules, they submit their structure to the Knower with a Guess Token.
If the Builders submit their molecular structures and are wrong, they have exhausted precious resources and are that much closer to losing the game.
If the Builders submit their molecular structures and are correct, they receive more Clue Tokens as a reward and may begin building their next Secret Molecule! If each Builder is able to correctly build both of their Secret Molecules, everyone wins!
You don’t need to know chemistry to play this game. I don’t teach organic chemistry, but I think this might be useful as a light-hearted review.
Linked in the grade 12 chemistry page.
How to Play
One player takes on the role of the “Knower” while all other players then become the “Builders”. The Knower has access to a number of Secret Molecules and will give the Builders clues about these as they attempt to identify their structure. After setting up the Clue cards in front of her, the Knower will randomly designate 3 Secret Molecule cards for each Builder (4 Secret Molecules if there is only one Builder). Each Builder then takes a set of Element Tiles that bear a variety of elements and bonding patterns.
The Knower must study the Secret Molecules designated to each Builder and then give each Builder clue cards that relate to their specific Molecule!
Each Builder must interpret these Clues as they arrange and rearrange their individual Element Tiles, attempting to deduce the structure of their Secret Molecule.
Builders may request new Clues from the Knower as the game progresses with their limited supply of Clue Tokens.
When the Builders think that the molecular structures they have built match their Secret Molecules, they submit their structure to the Knower with a Guess Token.
If the Builders submit their molecular structures and are wrong, they have exhausted precious resources and are that much closer to losing the game.
If the Builders submit their molecular structures and are correct, they receive more Clue Tokens as a reward and may begin building their next Secret Molecule! If each Builder is able to correctly build both of their Secret Molecules, everyone wins!
You don’t need to know chemistry to play this game. I don’t teach organic chemistry, but I think this might be useful as a light-hearted review.
Linked in the grade 12 chemistry page.
Updated IoniCompounds Game
June 11, 2016
Updated Resource
- Added alternate backs to the IoniCompounds game, linked in the grade 10 chemistry unit.
New In Our Time Episodes
May 05, 2016
New Resources
- Added link to the 1816, the Year Without a Summer episode of In Our Time, linked in the grade 10 climate unit.
- Added link to the Neutron episode of In Our Time, linked in the grade 11 physics energy unit.
- Added link to the Chromatography episode of In Our Time, linked in the grade 12 chemistry course.
New In Our Time Episodes
January 23, 2016
New Resources
- Added link to the Science of Glass episode of In Our Time, linked in the grade 12 chemistry course.
- Added link to the Perpetual Motion episode of In Our Time, linked in the grade 11 physics energy unit.
- Added link to the Faraday episode of In Our Time, linked in the grade 11 physics electromagnetism unit.
- Added link to the Saturn episode of In Our Time, linked in the grade 9 space unit.
- Added link to the Circadian Rhythms episode of In Our Time, linked in the grade 12 biology course.
Updated Grade 10 Resource
December 30, 2015
New Grade 10 Resource
December 07, 2015
Updated Grade 10 Resource
December 05, 2015
Updated Resource
- Added a section to the Chemical Equation Practice package, linked in the chemistry unit.
Updated Grade 10 Resources
November 14, 2015
Updated Resources
- Fixed a small typo in the Ionic Compound Quizzes, linked in the chemistry unit.
- Fixed a small typo in the Molecular Models Activity, linked in the chemistry unit.
New Grade 10 Chemistry Resource
May 02, 2015
New Grade 9 Resource
April 23, 2015
New Grade 9 & 10 Chemistry Resources
March 26, 2015
New Grade 9 Resources
- Added a link to the BBC documentary Chemistry: A Volatile History, linked in the chemistry unit.
- Added the Chemistry History Quizzes, linked in the chemistry unit.
New Grade 10 Resources
- Added a link to the BBC documentary Chemistry: A Volatile History, linked in the chemistry unit.
- Added the Chemistry History Quizzes, linked in the chemistry unit.
New and Updated Grade 10 Chemistry Resources
March 06, 2015
New Resource
Added the OSSLT Painting Out Pollution quiz, linked in the chemistry unit.
Updated Resource
- Updated the OSSLT Poisonous Jewelry quiz, linked in the chemistry unit.
New Grade 10 Chemistry Resource
February 11, 2015
Updated Grade 10 Chemistry Resource
January 31, 2015
Updated Resource
- Updated the Model Cards for Balancing Reactions package, linked in the chemistry unit.
Updated Grade 10 Chemistry Resource
January 27, 2015
Updated Resource
- Fixed some errors in the Ionic Bonding Practice package, linked in the chemistry unit.
Updated Grade 10 Chemistry Resource
January 24, 2015
Updated Resource
- Updated the Model Cards for Balancing Reactions package, linked in the chemistry unit.
New Grade 10 Chemistry Resource
January 18, 2015
New Grade 10 Chemistry Resource
January 06, 2015
New Grade 9 Resource
July 13, 2014
New and Updated Resources
June 30, 2014
New Resource
- Added the Word Puzzle Booklet for grade 12 chemistry, linked in the general chemistry section.
Updated Resource
- Minor changes to the Word Puzzle Booklet for Grade 12 biology, linked in the general biology section.
Updated Grade 10 Resource
March 12, 2014
New Grade 10 Resource
March 04, 2014
New Grade 10 Resource
February 12, 2014
New Grade 10 Resources
October 25, 2013
New Resources
- Lessons for Acids and Bases in the chemistry unit.
- Lessons for Refraction in the physics unit.
- Lessons for Lenses in the physics unit.
New and Updated Grade 10 Resources
October 24, 2013
New Resources
- A Safety Poster assignment in the chemistry unit.
- Lessons for the chemistry unit: Chemical Reactions.
- A reading exercise on Acid Rain in China in the chemistry unit.
- Lessons for The Nature of Light in the physics unit.
- Link to NASA’s Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum in the physics unit.
- A Sources of Light Poster assignment in the physics unit.
- A quiz (Quiz Empedocles) in the physics unit.
- Lessons for Reflection in the physics unit.
- A Mirror Ray Diagram Workbook in the physics unit.
Updated Resources
- Minor cosmetic update to the Ionic Compound Quizzes package in the chemistry unit.
- Minor cosmetic update to the Chemical Equation Practice package in the chemistry unit.
Teaching Science